'Ernakulam roads without private buses felt like visiting another country': Jude Anthany's FB post goes viral

Kochi: Director Jude Anthany Joseph, known for his candid and often controversial social media posts, has once again stirred public debate--this time over the state of private bus services in Ernakulam. The filmmaker, best known for the acclaimed movie 2018, shared a Facebook post during the recent general strike that brought private bus operations to a halt.

Using the unusual quiet on the roads as a backdrop, Jude criticised the disruption typically caused by private buses in the city. His post read:

“Ernakulam roads without private buses are so calm and peaceful. It felt like visiting another country yesterday and today (not forgetting the few who drive well).”

The post quickly went viral, attracting thousands of likes and hundreds of comments, and sparking a heated exchange between those supporting his observation and others calling it out as elitist.

Some commenters agreed with Jude, saying reckless driving is a common issue. One wrote, “Most of the driving is careless,” while another claimed, “The worst bus drivers in Kerala are in Ernakulam.”

However, many others pushed back strongly. One critic asked, “Should everyone use their own vehicles then?” Another added pointedly, “Not everyone has a car like you, darling. Don’t ordinary people need to travel?”

A particularly sharp comment questioned the practicality of the criticism: “Can a bus even drive through Ernakulam and reach on time according to the RTO’s schedule?”

Others weighed in with broader reflections on Kerala’s transport issues. Some noted that the situation is similar on routes like Palakkad–Thrissur, Thrissur–Kozhikode, and Palakkad–Kozhikode. There were also remarks about how bus drivers behave “as if they’re carrying their own family members,” and how “they honk and cut in without concern.”

A few users even welcomed the temporary quiet, suggesting, “Strikes like this should happen occasionally to reduce air pollution.” Another noted that many people ended up working from home because of the lack of buses. Some went further, imagining an even more serene Ernakulam: “Ernakulam would be great even without cars, bikes, and autos…”